This is a thread for Senators to discuss the workings of the Senate, propose ideas for legislation, and to make speeches on any topic they desire.

Non-Senators, please limit your discussion in this thread. If you have words to say about specific legislation, please post it in that bill's specific thread or in the Protest and Analysis thread. If you have a question for a specific Senator, please post it in their office or send a PM. If you would like to make a general rant, make a thread in the Fantasy Elections forum or start a newspaper or something and put it there. If you would like to freely post in this thread, get elected to the Senate first- it's not too hard, even Naso managed to do it once. Basically, if you're not in the Senate, only post here if a Senator specifically asks a question to the public and you have something constructive to say, or if you are specifically invited to speak by a Senator. That is all.

We have currently at any one time at least three threads if not more depending on what is on the floor that together deal with everything that this will be intended for. And due to the restrictions on who and what is to be said and the fact that so few in the current Senate like to talk, that little use will be made of this thread. No offense to Bullmoose, it is indeed a fine idea and few months ago it would have probably had some purpose but presently I don't see it. Now that is not to say that need shall not arise in the future, it does say that it is not presently here.

We have currently at any one time at least three threads if not more depending on what is on the floor that together deal with everything that this will be intended for. And due to the restrictions on who and what is to be said and the fact that so few in the current Senate like to talk, that little use will be made of this thread. No offense to Bullmoose, it is indeed a fine idea and few months ago it would have probably had some purpose but presently I don't see it. Now that is not to say that need shall not arise in the future, it does say that it is not presently here.

I think it's a nice thing to have. You note there are three different threads that serve this purpose, but isn't it a good idea to have a single thread that covers all those topics?

The bills on the floor can stay on the floor without needing to be resubmitted, per Article 10 of the current OSPR. Note that if a vote is occuring in one of these bills on the floor at the time of transition, Franzl and dallasfan65 would be able to replace the vote of their respective predecessors.

Also, I cease being President Pro Tempore at noon tomorrow, though I would like to run for reelection . Note that this resolution has been passed by the Senate but hasn't been added to the Wiki yet. Basically, Marokai, as the new President of the Senate it is your responsibility to preside over the Senate for the next few days at least, which will include managing the current bills on the floor, having PPT elections, and posting the confirmation threads and such. After a new PPT is elected you can defer to him to run the Senate by way of OSPR Article II, Section 2.1.f, if you don't want to manage us personally. Also, friendly reminder, note that if you don't do anything in the Senate by noon on Wednesday (that is, five days), then NCYankee as Dean becomes the Senate's presiding officer per OSPR II 3.ii, until a PPT is elected.

Also, if you really don't want to deal with any of the Senate, you can just defer to the "PPT" immediately, which would let Yankee run things per OSPR II 2.3 since the PPT office would be technically vacant.

Actually, thinking about it, if you just don't even do any of the required "start of the session" stuff, Yankee can just go ahead and do it, per OSPR II.2.1.c, since without a PPT it all is your sepecific responsibility, whether implicitly or explicitly.

But yeah. Not saying Marokai will be ignoring the Senate or anything, just posting all relevant transition rules here in one place should they be needed.

Thanks for posting the info of course, because it's handy having procedure like that out in the open, but I should be able to, barring some huge disaster, get things off the ground. I've ran a few things around these parts before, afterall.

2. Following the swearing in of the new Senate at the beginning of each Session, the President of the Senate shall open a thread in the Fantasy Government board for Senators to announce their candidacy for the position of PPT. This thread shall be further known in this document as the PPT Candidacy Declaration Thread and shall be open for forty-eight (48) hours for Senators to declare their candidacy for the position.

The intent of the declaration thread is clear and no other provision for announcing candidates in some other place or by some other means. If you nominate someone else he/she has to accept it (which would be the equivalent of announcing the candidacy).

Technically it says the thread is there for Senators to declare their candidacy, not that they're entirely unable to declare elsewhere. it's the only place that Senators can announce their candidacy and the Presiding Officer of the Senate is obligated to put them on the ballot; nothing would prevent Marokai from noting my nomination after seeing this. It's Marokai's call, of course, but I hope he does put me on the ballot given the circumstances

Still, to prevent controversy, I'll try my best to get somewhere with cellphone service over the next day or two to officially declare my candidacy "properly"

One, I'd like to give accolades to Libertas; over the past month I've been genuinely surprised by the dedication he's given this office, his ability to work with other Senators, and the new and innovative ideas he brings forth to discussion. I hope Libertas does not take this as an insult, but he has definitely shown much more zeal for this office than I was expecting of him.

Two, if other Senators could formally propose the rest of the Executive Branch's legislative agenda two or three bills at a time, to prevent the Anti-Clogging Statutes from coming into effect, that would be awesome.

Three, it's good to see the Senate busier again in general. Good work everyone.

edit- also, thanks again for the reelection as PPT. As always, I'd appreciate any commentary into how I could improve.

One, I'd like to give accolades to Libertas; over the past month I've been genuinely surprised by the dedication he's given this office, his ability to work with other Senators, and the new and innovative ideas he brings forth to discussion. I hope Libertas does not take this as an insult, but he has definitely shown much more zeal for this office than I was expecting of him.

Libertas has had some halfway decent bills but his attitude towards debate is deplorable and after spending days causing countless trouble and arguments toward at least two appointees acting completely ridiculous he came around and voted Aye, which is an action that completely contradicts everything he said up until that point, and only did so because it was abundantly clear the nominees would not be stopped and he didn't want to seem like a constant obstructionist.

I'm not saying these things to bash Libertas or start any argument (and indeed, I barely pay attention to this thread) but get ahold of yourselves.

One, I'd like to give accolades to Libertas; over the past month I've been genuinely surprised by the dedication he's given this office, his ability to work with other Senators, and the new and innovative ideas he brings forth to discussion. I hope Libertas does not take this as an insult, but he has definitely shown much more zeal for this office than I was expecting of him.

Two, if other Senators could formally propose the rest of the Executive Branch's legislative agenda two or three bills at a time, to prevent the Anti-Clogging Statutes from coming into effect, that would be awesome.Three, it's good to see the Senate busier again in general. Good work everyone.

edit- also, thanks again for the reelection as PPT. As always, I'd appreciate any commentary into how I could improve.

Could you give us an update on this situation because right now you will have to pull some bills unless someone assumes sponsorship of them.

One, I'd like to give accolades to Libertas; over the past month I've been genuinely surprised by the dedication he's given this office, his ability to work with other Senators, and the new and innovative ideas he brings forth to discussion. I hope Libertas does not take this as an insult, but he has definitely shown much more zeal for this office than I was expecting of him.

Libertas' robust questioning of the Cabinet nominees was welcomed and I appreciate his decision to vote in favor of their confirmations.

I look forward to a strong working relationship between the Senate and my administration and I do urge each of you to shoot me a PM every so often to rip me a new one on something or other. I find one-on-one discussions to be of special value in this game, especially in private, beyond the lights of public posturing.